You’re Not Starting Over—You’re Starting From Experience
Hello friends! 😎
Has it been Maycember for you, too?
For me, this month has been full—rich with meaningful work, family time, and a few quiet pauses to refill my own cup. If your days have felt full (or a little blurry), I hope you’ve found space to care for yourself along the way.
Earlier this month, I held my First Tuesday Office Hours. It ended up being a quiet gathering—just me and one thoughtful woman—reflecting together on what it means to begin again at this time in our life.
And honestly, that’s how most meaningful change begins:
Quietly. Personally. One conversation at a time.
Whether you’re navigating a life transition or simply sensing a shift within, this season of life invites us to pause, reset, and reimagine.
Sometimes we begin again not because something’s wrong—but because something deeper is ready to emerge, even if we don’t yet know what it is.
Other times, life throws a curveball—a health diagnosis, a loved one’s needs, an unexpected change—and we’re forced to pivot, even when we didn’t plan to.
Beginning again can take many forms in midlife and beyond:
- Releasing roles that no longer fit
- Reconnecting with passions or dreams we once set aside
- Adjusting to physical changes with new rhythms of rest, movement, or care
- Redefining identity beyond caregiving or career
- Starting something new after loss, retirement, or redirection
No matter what’s prompting your new beginning, the invitation is the same:
✨ Meet yourself where you are. Move forward with honesty and care.
A Few Questions We Explored Together:
- Think of a time when you had to start over—by choice or by circumstance. What helped? What held you back?
- Where are you feeling the nudge to begin again now?
- What do you need to release to make room for what’s next?
- How do you balance grace and ambition as you re-enter something new?
We often imagine beginning again as a big, dramatic reset.
But really, we begin again all the time—in quiet, courageous ways.
Sometimes we resist starting over because we think it means we failed... or that we’re too late... or that no one will validate the effort it takes.
But here’s the truth:
💡Beginning again is a mindset.
It starts by allowing yourself to be a beginner again—with vulnerability, curiosity, and compassion.
What if starting over isn’t a setback—but a sign of resilience?
What if every time you’ve had to begin again—after loss, transition, burnout, or reinvention—it wasn’t proof you messed up, but proof you didn’t give up?
Beginning again means:
You’re still hopeful.
Still open.
Still willing to believe there’s more ahead for you.
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot
So, this summer, I invite you to begin again—on your terms.
Let it be imperfect. Let it be yours. Take action!
☀️ June Office Hours: “The Power of Saying No”
📅 Tuesday, June 3
🕘 9:00 am PST
This is a free, monthly Zoom gathering just for email subscribers—a gentle check-in, a shared reflection, and space to explore how we live, think, and grow in the second half of life.
join us at this Zoom link.
🌿 Mental Health Awareness Month: Turning Awareness into Action
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I’ve been highlighting a simple but powerful framework from psychiatrist Dr. Sue Varma: The 4 M’s of Mental Health.
These four anchors can help us reset when we feel “off,” overwhelmed, or out of sync—no matter our season of life.
💪Movement – Boosts mood and supports the release of “happy hormones.” Any movement counts—housework, stretching, a walk around the block. Just move your body daily!
🧘Mindfulness – Small pauses throughout the day to simply be: notice how you feel, breathe, and observe without judgment. Mindfulness helps quiet the mind and calm the nervous system, and you can practice it anytime, anywhere.
🎓Mastery – Engage in something new or do something you’re already good at. This builds confidence, creativity, and satisfaction. What’s something that sparks your curiosity?
💬Meaningful Engagement – We’re wired for connection. Reach out. Be seen, heard, and understood. Social support and connection is the #1 predictor of well-being!
This is the perfect time to revisit these practices—not as “to-dos,” but as ways to come home to yourself – every day!
Which “M” are you craving more of right now?
As the old Nike line says: Just do it. Be intentional with your mental health—because there is no health without mental health.
👉Read more about the 4 M’s on my blog .
☀️ Summer = A New Beginning
It’s the unofficial start of summer—a season with more light, more margin, and often, a softer pace.
But summer can slip by quickly if we don’t pause and ask:
What do I need? What do I want to explore, feel, or create?
This is the perfect time to begin something—gently, intentionally, and with support.
👭Thinking About Coaching This Summer?
I work with a small number of women in midlife and beyond who are:
- Ready to reclaim their time and energy
- Looking for meaning, not just more busyness
- Curious about what’s next when autopilot isn’t cutting it
If that sounds like you, let’s talk.
No pressure—just a supportive conversation.
👉Book a free consult here.
🧭 Coming Soon: From Lost to Found
An 8-week course for women navigating midlife transitions
Whether you're navigating an empty nest, career change, retirement, or a shift in purpose, this course will help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Using the REDESIGN framework, you’ll walk away with:
- A clear sense of values, identity, and strengths
- Emotional resilience and renewed confidence
- A personalized plan for your next chapter
- A supportive group of like-minded women
If you’re feeling stuck or uncertain in this season, this course was made for you. ☺️
👉Click here to learn more or join the waitlist.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Summer isn’t just for vacations and iced coffee (though those help!). It’s also a season to start something that sparks you—a mindset shift, a new rhythm, a fresh way of caring for yourself.
Give yourself permission to begin, even if it’s small.
I hope to see you at the next Office Hours:
📅 Tuesday, June 3
🕘 9:00 am PST
Theme: The Power of Saying No
Wishing you a summer of meaningful moments and mindful beginnings,
Judy
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